AL strikes out 16, holds off NL for 4-3 win in All-Star Game

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American League Matt Chapman, of the Oakland Athletics, rounds to second on his way to third on a single by American League teammate James McCann, of the Chicago White Sox, during the seventh inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game against the National League, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

American League’s Joey Gallo, of the Texas Rangers, hits a solo home run off National League pitcher Will Smith (13), of the San Francisco Giants, during the seventh inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Liam Hendriks #16 of the Oakland Athletics and the American League pitches against the National League during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: A general view during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics participates in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians and the American League is forced out at first base by Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets and the National League during the sixth inning in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros and the American League talks with Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the American League (wearing #45 in honor of Tyler Skaggs) during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Fans and players hold Stand Up to Cancer signs during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

National League pitcher Will Smith, of the San Francisco Giants, throws during the seventh inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game American League, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics participates in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros and the American League bats against the National League during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

American League pitcher Liam Hendriks, of the Oakland Athletics, reacts after giving up a solo home run to National League Charlie Blackmon, of the Colorado Rockies, during the sixth inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

American League catcher James McCann, of the Chicago White Sox, catches pop up in foul territory by National League Mike Moustakas, of the Milwaukee Brewers, to end the top of the eighth inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians and the American League pitches against the National League during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, left, hugs Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco during the middle of the fifth inning of the MLB baseball All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. The Indians’ right-hander, who was recently diagnosed with a form of leukemia, was saluted in the fifth inning of the game as part of Major League Baseball’s “Stand Up to Cancer” campaign. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Members of the American League squad celebrate their 4-3 victory over the National League in the MLB baseball All-Star Game, Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics participates in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees and the American League celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox and the American League after defeating the National League All-Stars 4-3 in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Shane Bieber #57 of the Cleveland Indians and the American League poses with the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award after the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

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By BEN WALKER | AP Baseball Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) — For one night, the pitchers took back the power.

Hours after an awesome Home Run Derby got everyone buzzing even louder about monster shots and juiced balls, only a couple flew out of Progressive Field on Tuesday.

Instead, Justin Verlander blazed 97 mph heat, Shane Bieber and Aroldis Chapman each struck out the side and the American League slowed a loaded NL lineup 4-3 for its seventh straight win in the All-Star Game.

“I know it’s the year of the home run, but pitching dominated today,” Colorado slugger Nolan Arenado said.

Sure did — at least until play resumes Thursday.

Facing Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and a bunch of boppers, the AL staff combined to strike out 16.

With fans hoping to see a replay of Monday’s jaw-dropping aerial show when 312 homers cleared the walls, this became the Arm-Star Game up until the late innings.

Derby champ Pete Alonso of the Mets grounded a two-out, two-run single past Gleyber Torres in the eighth to close the NL’s gap. After a double steal put runners at second and third against Cleveland reliever Brad Hand, White Sox catcher James McCann made a tumbling catch on Mike Moustakas’ twisting foul pop to end the inning.

Chapman closed to give the AL its 19th win in 22 games, with a tie stuck in there. He got a little encouragement with two outs — Yankees teammate CC Sabathia, honored this week for his contributions on and off the field, strolled to the mound to talk to the flamethrower.

Chapman then struck out Yasmani Grandal for a save , giving the AL an overall 45-43-2 lead in the Midsummer Classic.

No need, either, for the experimental rule that was set to go effect: If the game went into extras, each team would’ve started the 10th with an automatic runner on second base.

Major League Baseball is on a record-shattering pace for homers this season, but no one came close to clearing the walls until Charlie Blackmon connected in the NL sixth to make it 2-1. Texas’ Joey Gallo countered with a solo drive in a two-run seventh.

Still, it was a far cry from last year’s All-Star Game that featured a record 10 home runs.

Jorge Polanco drove in a run with an infield single for a 2-0 edge in the fifth and another scored on a double-play grounder.

“I wanted to swing the bat early. I had some nervous jitters I wanted to get out,” Brantley said.

Winning pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, Lucas Giolito and Shane Greene did their parts to protect the lead with scoreless innings.

“I kind of expected it, to be honest,” Cubs slugger Kris Bryant said. “You only see them once, so they have the advantage.”

“There are a lot of hard throwers and great pitchers over there. Unless you’ve seen them before, it’s a difficult matchup,” he said.

Bieber earned the MVP award in front of a chanting home crowd, striking out Willson Contreras, Ketel Marte and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the fifth with a 1-0 lead.

“It was electric out there, the fans got in it and it was fun,” AL manager Alex Cora of the Red Sox said. “And I’m glad that he got the MVP. He plays at this level. He’s really good.”

The biggest misplay of the night might have been on the scoreboard. NL All-Stars David Dahl of Colorado and Willson Contreras of the Cubs had their names misspelled — “Davis Dahl” and “Wilson Contreras” — on the outfield videoboard. Jeff McNeil was spelled correctly, but the photo accompanying it was of Mets teammate Jacob deGrom.

“That was tough, to see deGrom’s picture up there,” McNeil said. “I didn’t really like that. I wanted to see my picture up there. I know my family did, too. What are you going to do, I guess, but I don’t think that should happen.”

Fittingly, the first batter of the game was the guy who leads the majors in home runs — Yelich, the NL MVP with 31 homers at the break, hit leadoff for the first time this year.

Yelich lined out and Verlander quickly fanned Javier Báez and Freddie Freeman to finish his work.Those lively balls that Verlander is complaining about? Didn’t bother him a bit.

Báez came up again in the third with a bright red bat, stepped out of the box and playfully waved to his pal Francisco Lindor in the AL dugout.

NL starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, deGrom and Luis Castillo threw scoreless innings to keep the NL close in the early going.

Pittsburgh dynamo Josh Bell was part of the youngest starting lineup in All-Star history, with the NL crew averaging under 26 years old.

Overall, there were 36 first-timers, a number boosted by the absence of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Jose Altuve and several past perennials. And consider this: Of the 16 AL pitchers on the 2017 All-Star roster, zero made the roster this year.

TRIBUTEAll players wore a uniform patch with No. 45 to honor late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Los Angeles teammates Mike Trout and Tommy La Stella switched their jerseys to Skaggs’ number, and there was a pregame moment of silence.

UP NEXTThe regular season resumes on Thursday night with one game, Houston at Texas. All teams are back in action Friday. … Next year’s All-Star Game is at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1980.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports